As college students across the country cram for their finals this week, many will turn to the use of “study drugs” to get through the stresses of exams.

Prescription drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall and Vyvanse are stimulants that are frequently prescribed to treat those diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Often referred to as “study” or “focus drugs,” the misuse or abuse of these prescription stimulants have become commonplace for students during the school year.

The Center on Young Adult Health and Development defines the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs as any intentional use by those “who do not have a prescription” or use it in a way that is “inconsistent with the prescribing physician’s instructions.”

The publication is supported in whole or in part by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Bureau of Behavioral Health Wellness and Prevention, through State General Funds and/or the SAPT Block Grant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. DHHS, SAMHSA, or the State of Nevada.